Game.



E. C. SIMCDX.

GAME. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 1917.

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EDWARD C. SIMGOX, OF COlLUlVfBUS, OHIO.

GAME.

Application filed November 27, 1917.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. SIMcox,

- citizen of the United States, residing at Go rangement ofplayerpositions disposed thereon, certain of said positions denoting trenchesor troop assembling spaces, and

upon which are initially disposed the playing elements ofthe game, saidelements consisting of a plurality of members of varying rank andincluding forv each side a general, a plurality of captains and asubstantially greater number 'of privates, which latter are promoted tothe standing of lieutenants upon gaining certain field positions;another object of the invention being to maneuver said elements oversaid surface or position in such manner that the general and pluralityof captains of the opposing side be captured, which when accomplishedprovides a victory for the attacking side, thereby concluding the game.

For a further disclosure of the invention, that is with regard to thepeculiar manner of construction and playing the game, referonce is to behad to the following description and to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification, and in which similar characters ofreference denote corresponding parts throughout the several viewsthereof, and:

Figure l is a plan view of the game comprising the present invention,the'playing elements thereof being shown in their initially assembledpositions.

Fig. 2 is a grouped view of the playing elements.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the game B comprisingthe'present invention is played upon a rectangular surface or board 5,which may be of relatively rigid or foldable construction, and formedfrom any desired material or of any proper- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Get. 29, 1913.

Serial No. 204,147.

tion. The playing face of the board has suitably printed and described,impressed or otherwise designated thereon a checkerboard simulatingfield 6, consisting of a number of diagonally joined squares or playerpositions, 7, which latter in this instance are preferably sixty-four(64) in number. The squares 7 are usually of a somber or dark color, asindicated,'and the intervening spaces are preferably white, however,certain of the squares or positions, designated 8, are red in color andthe functions of these positions 8 will be presently set forth.

The players utilized by the game consist of two sides or armies ofdifferently colored players, which may be of any desired fanciful orplain configuration, a plain and inex pensive design being shown. Theplayers comprise elements of graded authority, position or liberties,the main element for each side being the general, designated by thenumeral 9, this player is normally located upon the red positions 10,situated within the outer rows 11 of the square 7 these outer rows beingtermed the final or third line trenches, the next adjacent rows 12 ofsaid squares being designated as the second line trenches and the nextrows 13 as the first line trenches.

As before stated, the generals 9 normally occupy the central positions10, found in the rear or third line trenches 11 and situated inhorizontal alinement with the generals and occupying the remainingspaces or squares in the trenches 11, are a plurality of player elements14, termed captains, the latter being so constructed as to be readilydistinguished from a general. The players 9 and 14 are permitted to movein any diagonal direction over the face of the board 5, that is eitherforward or backward, and a captain of an opposing side is relegated withthe authority to capture the general of its opponent.

Adapted to initially occupy the first and second line trenches, 13 and12 respectively, are a plurality of player elements termed privates, thelatter being designated by the numeral 15 and are of substantiallydifferent construction from the previously de scribed playing elements.The privates 15 are only allowed to move diagonally forward, not in arearward direction, as this PllVllGgG is only carried by the othcers. Inmoving forward, the privates must, 1n the course of their advance,occupy one of the 'four red positions 8, which positions are known asthe high-ground or safety zones. In the event of failure on the part ofthe players 15 to move over one of the positions 8, the players thusoffending are forfeited and removed from the game. A player is alsoforfeited or captured if permitted to occupy one of the spaces 8 longerthan two successive moves. It will be understood that it is the objectof the enemies troops or players to prevent the unhindered advance ofthe opposing players across the board. This can be accomplished, as inan ordinary checker game, by maneuvering certain players so that theycan jump advancing opposing players, or by so alining certain playersthat further moves on the part of the opposing side will be blocked orrendered impossible. After a private 15 has successfully gained thetrench of his opposing side, he is crowned and is promoted to the rankof lieutenant, the latter being distinguished, as shown in Fig. 2, byplacing another man or player upon the same. A lieutenant is allowed thesame liberties as that of the other otlicers, that is with regard tofreedom of movement in any direction, and is permitted to capture ortake an opposing oflicer of any rank, this feature cannot beaccomplished by a private.

- The object of the game, mainly, is to capture the general of theopposing force, which feature is considered to be equal to winningone-half of the game, as a captured general equals five points of theten points necessary to win the game. A captured captain counts onepoint, therefore it is necessary in order to conclusively win the gameto capture five of the seven captains, and when this is accomplished,the game is considered to have been won by the successful side. Eachplayer is entitled to one move at a time and is obliged to always movein a diagonal direction. An ofiicer is not obliged to pass through thesafety squares 8, and is not allowed to occupy such squares, if passingthrough the same for more than two successive moves. It will beunderstood that private can capture a private, but cannot capture anoflicer; it is not until the private reaches the trench rows of theopposing force that he is raised to the authority of an officer, hebeing then ranked as a lieutenant and is endowed with the authority tomove in any diagonal direction or capture any man. It is, of course,mandatory that a player should be captured at every apparentopportunity, otherwise a penalty of the loss of one man is inflictedupon the side making the oversight. A captured man cannot reenter thegame, and a man is considered captured when he is jumped.

In. summary, the following fundamental rules of the game should becarefully ob served. A private cannot be moved backwardly until hebecomes an officer, and this distinction is gained by entering thetrench rows of the opposing force. A private can capture a private butnot an officer. If a private passes through the high-land spaces 8without touching same, the player is immediately forfeited and should beremoved from the game. The general should be protected and guarded, ashis loss is practically equivalent to the loss of the game.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is provided a gamepossessing amusing, entertaining, thoughtful and skill displayingfeatures which are effectively brought out during the progress ofthegame. The latter involves a little more study and care in playing itsseveral moves than that which is taken in an average game of checkers,but does not possess the complexity of the well known game of chess. Italso contains abundant features of interest so as to render the samepopular at all times, but for psychological reasons, the same is particularly appealing during the present martial period. It is thought fromthe foregoing that the features of construction and the rules forplaying the game will be clearly understood, therefore, a more detailedexplanation has been accordingly omitted. It will be understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the precise method forconstruction and playing the game as above set forth but that thesefeatures are susceptible to such changes as practice may develop to benecessary, and will consequently fall within the ambit of the invention.

Having described the invention, What is claimed as patentable is:

1. A game of the character described, comprising a playing board havingrows of diagonally joined player positions designated thereon, saidpositions being defined by parallel lines extending longitudinally andtransversely across said board, certain of said rows extendingtransversely across the board and located at opposite longitudinal endsof the latter being distinctively markedto designate positions of gradedimportance, four positions situated between said distinctively markedrows and having characteristic markings, and a plurality of playingelements of varying authority situated to occupy and to defend saiddistinctively marked rows.

2. A game of the character described, comprising a playing board havingrows of 128 diagonally joined player positions, said'positions beingdefined by parallel lines extending longitudinally and transverselyacross said board, certain of said rows being distinctively marked todesignate positions elements of varying authority situated to termedtrenches of graded importance, occupy and to traverse the saidpositions, said latter positions being situated adjacent said playingelements increasing in rank 10 to the longitudinal ends of said board,four and importance in accordance to their relaother distinctivelycolored positions desigtive height. nated high ground situated betweensaid In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature. trench rows, and aplurality of playing EDWARD C. SIMCOX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). O.

